Protective styles can be very beneficial for your strands and certain hair goals you want to obtain for yourself but like anything in this world it takes work and upkeep to maintain a healthy protective style and lack of care can cause your tresses to disintegrate like a vampire exposed to light. Here are 3 simple steps to ensure your locks won’t turn to dust.

1. Low Tension: If hair is too tight or you experience any type of uncomfortable tension from a hairstyle, weave or braids do not be lazy and have the mentality to deal with the pain in thinking it will loosen in a couple of days the damage that can be done in a short amount of time can sometimes be irreversible. If you need reinforcement look up images of traction alopeciawhich sometimes can be permanent. Fortunately my ordeal with traction alopecia years ago from high stressed hairstyles was reversible but I do speak from experience and with love so ladies keep tension at a minimum.

2. Moisturize: Do not think because your hair is in a protective style it does not need care. Protective styling still needs TLC and special attention, lack of can cause dryness, breakage, excessive split ends or unintentional dreading. Like a vine you must continue constant pruning or the plant will grow beyond measures that will be hard to control.

3. Time: Leaving your hair in a protective style to the hands of time for too long can leave you in a state of extreme distress when it comes to your detangling sessions. The most I will leave my protective styles in is for a week sometimes two (because I wear loose twist) but no longer then three and this is with constant healthy hair care practices. Also remember depending on the length loose protective styles that are not placed in an updo of some sort are still susceptible to split ends from friction of certain clothing or hats you might wear.

In the end protective styles are highly recommended and through my own personal experience this is definitely a hair staple that will frequent my regimen for years to come but just remember anything positive can also be negative if certain precautions are not taken into consideration.

What is your favorite protective style you prefer to rock most frequently?

i love weekly twists done with shea butter and a bit of jojoba oil – so soft and shiny and no frizz (for at least 4 days) !! my hair is short enough that i don’t need to put them in an updo… yet…. :)x

Cipriana

You have an advantage then with shorter hair because shorter hair or any length above the shoulders is another natural way to protect your ends due to less abuse and younger hair.

http://profiles.google.com/zitaabila Zita Abila

i love weekly twists done with shea butter and a bit of jojoba oil – so soft and shiny and no frizz (for at least 4 days) !! my hair is short enough that i don’t need to put them in an updo… yet…. :)x

Cipriana

You have an advantage then with shorter hair because shorter hair or any length above the shoulders is another natural way to protect your ends due to less abuse and younger hair.

Anonymous

Thanks ladies for a wonderful website!

I’m a competitive athlete – and fitness blogger- with natural hair. My only solution is rocking a hair scarf while I work out. I would love a way to style my hair cute! and still get my sweat on. Any ideas?

Cipriana

Thank you and competitive athlete you go girl! I hear you on the sweating and working out. May I ask how long your hair is? This would give me a better idea of what options I may be able to give you:)

http://www.fitandhungry.com Fit & Hungry

My hair is about two inches past my shoulders and very curly. I have super tiny natural spiral curls. You can only tell the length of my hair by pulling on strand and holding it out.

Cipriana

Have you ever tried a frontal side french braid bun.This is something I created where you side part the front of your hair and take about 3 inches of the front section of your hair or bangs and proceed to french braid across the front part of your hairline (make sure not to pull too tightly but just tight enough) then wrap the braid around the side of your head to the back and pin. Then proceed to do the same with the smaller section on the opposite side. Then bun the rest. You could also place a headband (the ones that wrap all around) behind the frontal french braided section. I will do a youtube tutorial on this style.

fitandhungry

Thanks ladies for a wonderful website!

I’m a competitive athlete – and fitness blogger- with natural hair. My only solution is rocking a hair scarf while I work out. I would love a way to style my hair cute! and still get my sweat on. Any ideas?

Cipriana

Thank you and competitive athlete you go girl! I hear you on the sweating and working out. May I ask how long your hair is? This would give me a better idea of what options I may be able to give you:)

http://www.fitandhungry.com Fit & Hungry

My hair is about two inches past my shoulders and very curly. I have super tiny natural spiral curls. You can only tell the length of my hair by pulling on strand and holding it out.

Cipriana

Have you ever tried a frontal side french braid bun.This is something I created where you side part the front of your hair and take about 3 inches of the front section of your hair or bangs and proceed to french braid across the front part of your hairline (make sure not to pull too tightly but just tight enough) then wrap the braid around the side of your head to the back and pin. Then proceed to do the same with the smaller section on the opposite side. Then bun the rest. You could also place a headband (the ones that wrap all around) behind the frontal french braided section. I will do a youtube tutorial on this style.

devany hayes

very good article(^_^)

Cipriana

Thank you :DDD

devany hayes

very good article(^_^)

Cipriana

Thank you :DDD

Meesh

I just recently purchased a wig so i can keep my hair protected. I plan on keeping my hair braided back and tucked away under the wig while i get my summertime prep workout on. But i have no idea how to take care of my hair during this time. Do i braid it and leave it for 4-5 weeks? I don’t want to do any damage

Meesh

I just recently purchased a wig so i can keep my hair protected. I plan on keeping my hair braided back and tucked away under the wig while i get my summertime prep workout on. But i have no idea how to take care of my hair during this time. Do i braid it and leave it for 4-5 weeks? I don’t want to do any damage

I work in an office were I’m one of three black women and the only natural. Can you recomend protective styling for hair that is long on top and short along the back? I hate protective styling because I LOVE BIG hair and my twist outs. Help I don’t want to cut my hair again due to split ends.

Thebarberswife

I work in an office were I’m one of three black women and the only natural. Can you recomend protective styling for hair that is long on top and short along the back? I hate protective styling because I LOVE BIG hair and my twist outs. Help I don’t want to cut my hair again due to split ends.

new twisty

I have thick hair and the satin bonnets at the beauty supplies dont fit. Where can I buy a bonnet that is made for big hair and headed folk like myself?

new twisty

I have thick hair and the satin bonnets at the beauty supplies dont fit. Where can I buy a bonnet that is made for big hair and headed folk like myself?

Keda

Hi, I have medium length hair and i’m not every effiecirnt in doing twists. Thus i opt for doing a bun and securing it with hair pins. Can i leave this style in for a week before i take it down or should i take it down sooner than that?